International Association Leaders Form World Wide Vision Coalition

Vision association leaders from around the globe have joined together to form the World Wide Vision Coalition (Wwvc), an organization founded to grow the markets and to foster new and important relationships across international borders. Representatives from 11 countries and their associations participated in the first Wwvc annual meeting, which was held May 6 during Mido in Milan.

Wwvc provides a forum for vision leaders to share ideas and resolve issues as they pertain to international commerce. By facilitating communication across disciplinary, geographic and political boundaries, the group will work cooperatively to grow the global ophthalmic economy.

'Keeping abreast of what is going on internationally has become absolutely necessary in today's global marketplace', said Bill Thomas, Vision Council of America (Vca) Ceo and executive vice president. 'This organization allows associations to collaborate on issues and projects which will ultimately bolster the vision industry in each of our respective markets'. With Vca as one of the founding members, Thomas worked with industry leaders from Europe, Australia, and Asia to develop an organizational plan and to brief other international vision associations.

Cirillo Coffen Marcolin, the president of Anfao and Mido who was also instrumental in providing support to the concept, strongly supported the new group. 'The World Wide Coalition's time has come'. he said. 'It will be a strong forum for addressing issues such as standardization, counterfeiting, trade shows and growing the market'.

Andrea Gluck, Vca chairman of the Board noted, 'All of the associations we talked to when we initiated the idea were interested in uniting around one table and supporting a world wide organization. If any associations want to become members, they are welcome. This will be an inclusive group that will bring everyone to the table'.

The next meeting of the Wwvc will be help in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Show and hosted by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association.